TEHRAN, Jun. 05 (MNA) – Iran has deemed US world's top state sponsor of terrorism, saying the Western country cannot accuse other nations of sponsoring terrorism by shirking its own responsibilities.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari reacted to the US State Department's annual report on global terrorist activity published Thursday, saying “while many countries consider, if not the US government itself but at least its close allies, as the world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism, this recent annual report on terrorism has ridiculed the blatant facts and realities and has become the best document to discredit all reports published by the US State Department.”

Jaberi Ansari went on to add, “legitimate struggles of people under occupation to achieve freedom and independence is not an example of terrorism, and a part of the accusations against Iran which has been based on this is therefore rejected. The report reflects the Zionist regime lobby as the greatest symbol of occupation, state terrorism, violation of humanitarian law and human rights, and imposition of policies of murder, repression and denial of the existence of the Palestinian people.”

“The hypocritical, propagandist, and double approach of the US government toward terrorism is one of the main reasons for the spread of terrorist activities in the region and throughout the world,” the Iranian diplomat stressed.

Jaberi Ansari deemed the policy of the Islamic Republic in rejecting terrorism and extremism and an all-around confrontation with them ‘transparent and clear’, adding “Iran is itself one of the top victims of terrorist activities and has lost 17,000 of its nationals to terrorism.”

The foreign ministry spokesman further called on the US to end its politicized and selective approach toward terrorism and instead start to have a serious and comprehensive confrontation with the real culprits who sponsor and spread terrorism in the region and the world.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to stress fighting against terrorism under its principled policies and is ready to lend help to other nations and international organizations for this end,” he said.